Brush



Aug. 1, 1967 A. M. MAUGHAN 3,333,239

BRUSH Filed Nov. l7, 1966 20 a J l I] i 11 1 ,l 1!

INVENTOR. ALICE M. MAUGHAN ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,333,289BRUSH Alice M. Maughan, Beverly Hills, Calif. Filed Nov. 17, 1966, Ser.No. 595,219 3 Claims. (Cl. 15-460) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Thisdisclosure relates to a cleaning brush of oval shape wherein thebristles are in the form of close knit tufts extending normally from onesurface of the brush. The ends of the bristles terminate in twoan'gulated planes defining an apex line running parallel to the surfacefrom which the tufts extend over the length of the brush itself. Thusthe bristles towards the convex side are shorted than the centralbristles thereby defining a corner for the bristle end surfaces. Thisarrangement facilitates cleaning in corners and the like.

This invention relates generally to cleaning brushes and moreparticularly to an improved brush particularly well adapted for cleaningthe corners of walls and the like.

Conventional brushes for cleaning and related purposes are oftencumbersome and present difficulties if the area to be cleaned is notreadily accessible. A typical problem involves cleaning the interiorcorners between floors, walls and the like. Conventional brushes ofteninclude handle or base portions which interfere with the wall or flooras one attempts to bring the bristles or cleaning portion of the brushinto contact with the corner for cleaning the same. Moreover, thebristles or cleaning portions of conventional brushes are not wellsuited for engaging the corner to provide the desired cleaning action,with a minimum of difiiculty.

With the foregoing in mind, it is accordingly a primary object of theinvention to provide an improved brush being designed to readilyaccommodate itself within interior corners of walls and the like withthe result that the corners may be thoroughly cleaned with maximum case.

More particularly it is an object, in accordance with the precedingobject, to provide a cleaning brush having a base or handle portion anda cleaning portion which are cooperatively arranged to permit thecleaning portion to engage otherwise inaccessible areas such as cornerswithout the base or handle portion interfering with the desired cleaningaction.

Briefly, these and many other objects and advantages of the inventionare obtained by providing a brush having a base member which islightweight and compact and defined in part by a pair of convexsidewalls which are joined at their ends to form parabolic or taperedend portions of the base member. The base member is further defined by apair of substantially parallel top and bottom surfaces.

The brush includes a plurality of closely spaced bristle tufts securedto the top surface of the base member and extending upwardly therefrom.The free ends of the bristle tufts terminate in a pair of angularlyrelated planar surfaces which are arranged to provide a complementaryengagement with the surfaces of the corner to be cleaned.

The sidewalls of the base member preferably include a pair of spacedcontinuous ribs defining a peripheral groove therebetween providing aconvenient means for gripping the brush. If desired, a handle member maybe detachably secured to the bottom surface of the base member toprovide an additional or alternate means for gripping the brush.

A better understanding of the invention will now be had by referring toa preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view of the brush in accordance with theinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the brush of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary end elevation view of the brush of FIGURE 1;and,

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken in the direction ofarrows 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

Referring first to FIGURES 1 and 2, it will be seen that the brush ofthe invention includes a base or handle member 10 which may be made ofwood, for example. As best shown in FIGURE 2, the base member 10 isdefined in part by a pair of convex sidewalls 11 and 12 which are joinedat their ends to form parabolic or tapered end portions 13 and 14. Theend portions 13 and 14 are spaced to define the longitudinal extent ofthe base member 10. It is apparent in FIGURE 2 that the sidewalls 11 and12 are symmetrical. The base member 10 is further defined by a pair ofsubstantially parallel and planar top and bottom surfaces 15 and 16.

In order to provide a convenient means for gripping the base member 10,the sidewalls 11 and 12 preferably include a pair of spaced,substantially parallel ribs 17 and 18 extending around a periphery ofthe base member. The ribs 17 and 18 are spaced to define a continuousgroove 19 therebetween which serves to receive the fingers of the userwhen gripping the brush.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, a plurality of bristle tufts 20 arearranged in closely spaced relation on the top surface 15 of the basemember 10. As best shown in FIGURE 4 each of the bristle tufts 20comprises a plurality of bristles 21 which are secured by adhesives orthe like within a cylindrical opening 22 defined in the surface 15. Thebristles 21, may be made of nylon, for example, and extend upward fromthe base member 10 at substantially right angles to the surface 15.

As best shown in FIGURE 3, the bristle tufts 20 terminate in free endsdefining a pair of substantially planar surfaces 23 and 24 which areangulated with respect to each other and converge to form an apex 25.The apex 25 extends along a line substantially parallel to the surface15 and extending between the end portions 13 and 14. The surfaces 23 and24 are symmetrical with respect to the apex 25 and are preferablydisposed at an angle of with respect to each other, as shown.

In order to provide an additional or alternate means for gripping thebrush, an elongated handle 26 may be threadedly or similarly secured tothe center of the bottom surface 16 of the base member. The handle 26includes a cylindrical shank 27 and an enlarged gripping portion 28. Asshown, the handle 26 extends outwardly from the surface 16 atsubstantially a right angle and may be detached from the base member ifdesired.

The brush as above-descri-bed is particularly effective for cleaninginterior corners and the like. The parabolic arrangement of the endportions of the base member permit the brush to enter corners morereadily. The angulated surfaces 23 and 24 of the bristles permit thesame to engage the surfaces of an interior corner in a compl mentarymanner. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the arrangement of thebase member and the bristles facilitates cleaning corners and the likewith maximum ease. Moreover, the brush may be easily handled with orwithout the handle 26, as desired.

Various changes falling within the scope and the spirit of the inventionwill occur to those skilled in the art. The invention is, therefore, notto be thought of as limited to the specific embodiment set forth.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved brush adapted for cleaning interior corners of walls andthe like, comprising: a base member having a pair of symmetrical convexsidewalls terminating in ends being joined to form parabolic endportions of said base member, said end portions being spaced to definethe longitudinal extent of said base member, said base member furtherbeing defined by substantially planar and parallel top and bottomsurfaces; and a plurality of closely spaced bristle tufts secured tosaid top surface and extending upwardly therefrom at substantially rightangles, said bristle tufts terminating in free ends defining a pair ofsubstantially planar surfaces which are ang-ulated with respect to eachother at substantially ninety degrees to converge and form an apex alonga line extending between said end portions of said base member parallelto said top surface, whereby the free ends of the bristle tufts arearranged for complementary engagement with the interior corner of awall.

2. The subject matter of claim 1, including an elongated handle securedcentrally to said bottom surface of said References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 1,178,179 4/1916 Rasemsen 15197 1,359,104 11/ 1920 Rheinberger15-160 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,038,925 5/1953 France. 1,080,217 5/1954 France.

467,273 10/ 1928 Germany.

20 CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

PETER FELDMAN, Assistant Examiner.

1. AN IMPROVED BRUSH ADAPTED FOR CLEANING INTERIOR CORNERS OF WALLS ANDTHE LIKE, COMPRISING: A BASE MEMBER HAVING A PAIR OF SYMMETRICAL CONVEXSIDEWALLS TERMINATING IN ENDS BEING JOINED TO FORM PARABOLIC ENDPORTIONS OF SAID BASE MEMBER, SAID END PORTIONS BEING SPACED TO DEFINETHE LONGITUDINAL EXTEND OF SAID BASE MEMBER, SAID BASE MEMBER FURTHERBEING DEFINED BY SUBSTANTIALLY PLANAR AND PARALLEL TOP AND BOTTOMSURFACES; AND A PLURALITY OF CLOSELY SPACED BRISTLE TUFTS SECURED TOSAID TOP SURFACE AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM AT SUBSTANTIALLY RIGHTANGLES, SAID BRISTLE TUFTS TERMINATING IN FREE ENDS DEFINING A PAIR OFSUBSTANTIALLY PLANAR SURFACES WHICH ARE ANGULATED WITH RESPECT TO EACHOTHER AT SUBSTANTIALLY NINETY DEGREES TO CONVERGE AND FORM AN APEX ALONGA LINE EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID END PORTIONS OF SAID BASE MEMBER PARALLELTO